A Black-eyed Treefrog (Agalychnis morelettii) from southern Mexico several years ago. They’re related to the more famous red-eyed tree frog that’s on about every package and poster for tourists visiting the rainforests of Central America. They have sticky toe pads and in addition to jumping, walk along branches and vines to get where they’re going.
A young Baja California Rattlesnake in Baja California Norte, Mexico several years ago. These small rattlesnakes are common throughout most of the peninsula. They inhabit about every type of habitat imaginable, from sandy beaches to nearly sheer cliffs, and everything in between.
Diet of Crotalus enyo (Serpentes: Viperidae) from the Baja California Cape Region, Mexico
Carbajal-Márquez, R. A., Arnaud, G., Martins, M., & Quintero-Díaz, G. E. (2016). Acta Zoológica Mexicana, 32(1), 45–48.
Diet of the Baja California Rattlesnake, Crotalus enyo (Viperidae)
Taylor, E. N. (2001). Copeia, 2001(2), 553–555.
A San Lucan Gecko from the southern end of Baja California Sur, Mexico. This species is endemic to the Cape region, where it does well in the rocky cliffs that you’ve probably seen as a backdrop in countless vacation photos.
Blair, C., Méndez-de la Cruz, F. R., Ngo, A., Lindell, J., Lathrop, A., & Murphy, R. W. (2009). Molecular phylogenetics and taxonomy of leaf-toed geckos (Phyllodactylidae: Phyllodactylus) inhabiting the peninsula of Baja California. Zootaxa, 2027, 28–42.
Grismer, L. L. (1999). An evolutionary classification of reptiles on islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Herpetologica, 55(4), 446–469.
A New Mexico Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus) from one of the remaining populations within the United States. These are small rattlesnakes adapted for high-elevation, higher-humidity environments than are typical in the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. This is one of only two rattlesnake species in the country that are listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Rattlesnake Solutions is fortunate to be among the organizations and agencies involved with a recovery effort to try to bolster the remaining population within Arizona.
A large Veracruz Neotropical Rattlesnake (Crotalus mictlantecuhtli) from a trip to Mexico a few years ago. This species was recently recognized as a separate lineage of the Neotropical Rattlesnakes, described in 2020, about a year before this photograph was taken.
A Baja California Rattlesnake we found a few years ago in Mexico. These interesting rattlesnakes can be found all over the peninsula, from sandy beaches to slides along nearly vertical cliffs, and everywhere in between. Just from impressions, they seem like someone mushed a sidewinder and tiger rattlesnake together to make a versatile desert rattlesnake.
A New Mexico Ridgenosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus) from Mexico.
A cool little viper with horn-like scales above the eyes. That’s a common thing with arboreal vipers in Central and South America, but vipers with “horns” are relatively few in comparison. They’re closely related to other montane vipers in the area that have similar structures, but live more familiar lives in steep, heavily vegetated forests.
A few hours of careful scouring of perfect habitat turned up none of these. Then after having more or less given up, I decided to flip some rocks near the cars while we waited for the crew to reassemble … and poof: the target. It’s fun when that happens.
Cerralvo Island Rattlesnake from Baja California Sur, Mexico several years ago. There are a couple of species of rattlesnakes on this island, both of which can be found even down on the beach, in ambush alongside seashells and dolphin bones.
A bright white and silver Speckled Rattlesnake from a desert boulder field in Baja California Norte, Mexico. This is among my personal favorite phenotypes of a very diverse species.
